Three Cord Justice performs tonight at the Boiler Room Brewhaus. Submitted photo. From left Jason Richison, Mark Markowitz, Liz Grace and Rick Alumbaugh.
The Boiler Room Brewhaus, 2 S. National Avenue, in historic Fort Scott’s downtown, offers live music throughout the year.
Tonight, Three Chord Justice will be playing classic country music from 7-9 p.m. with a suggested donation of $10.
The original group formed in March 2008 by Liz Grace in San Diego, CA.
Liz Grace. Submitted photo.
“TCJ quickly gained a following of two-steppers and lovers of country music in Southern California,” according to information provided by Liz Grace.
“The short of it is, for Mark ( Markowitz )and I, gigging is what we do,” Grace said. “It’s what we love best and we can’t help but do it as much as possible. It’s church.”
Mark Markowitz and Liz Grace. Submitted photo.
“We met when he came to audition for the band in 2008,” Grace said. “He played the heck out of a train beat!”
“On New Years Eve 2012 he proposed onstage, in front of all our family, friends and fans,” she said. “April 2021 will be our 7th anniversary. Love and music keep us together!”
Mark and Liz. Submitted photo.
“In May of 2020, Mark and I moved the band to Grove, Oklahoma, reformed with guitarist Jason Richison and bassist Rick Alumbaugh just a couple months later,” she said. “We couldn’t be more blessed to have our health and a busy calendar in 2021.”
The band features LeeRoy Whisenhunt on pedal steel, she said.
Hailing from Missoula Montana singer/songwriter Grace leads the group through a mix of classic country-influenced originals and handpicked covers from the likes of Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Patsy Cline and other country greats, she said.
“I got an early start singing in bars and honky-tonks, far before legal age, having to wait in alleys during band breaks,” Grace said.
Here is the entertainment/food truck schedule for the Boiler Room Brewhaus:
Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, 403 Woodland Hills Blvd.
New buildings/expansions are on the horizon for the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas.
CHC is working on the purchase plan for moving from its’ Fort Scott present site to the former Price Chopper building on Main Street at 23rd Street.
The present site is the former Mercy Hospital building at 401 Woodland Hills.
“We are… closing on our purchase of the 40,000 sq. ft. Price Chopper Building in Fort Scott on April 9,” Postai said. “The plan is to combine our walk-in care and main clinic together. The renovation will start as soon as possible, with a goal of completion prior to the expiration of our current lease with Mercy in December 2022.”
Krista Postai. Submitted photo.
There is also a new CHC building in Pittsburg.
“We have scheduled our groundbreaking for our new Medical Education Building in Pittsburg which will be home to all the students we are/will be training,” Postai said.
The groundbreaking will be May 3 at 12:30 p.m. at the John Parolo Education Building, south of the CHC/SEK System Office.
“About $5.6 million in donations have been raised to cover the full cost of the building and its furnishings scheduled for completion in the summer of 2022,” she said. “In the meantime, work continues on the establishment of a family practice residency program in Pittsburg in collaboration with Kansas University Medical Center and Via Christi/Ascension; the application for accreditation has been submitted with a ‘virtual’ survey planned this fall.”
CHC is planning a clinic in Chanute in the near future.
“We also bought 10 acres of land in Chanute on which to build a clinic in Neosho County,” she said. “Given all our other projects, it will probably take us 3-5 years to get this done.”
Standing at the bottom of a wind turbine looking up at the clear Kansas sky.
The Jayhawk Wind Project in Bourbon County is in construction.
“We are moving forward,” said Bourbon County Commissioner Lynne Oharah. “They are out there now, putting gravel on roads and widening access on the roads.”
“They are east and north of Porterville, in southwest Bourbon County, around 40th and Eagle Road,” Frank Young, an engineer with Agricultural Engineering Associates, Uniontown, said. “I have looked at a couple of culverts for them to see if they will hold up traffic for them.”
Frank Young. From the Agricultural Engineering Associates website.
“They are upgrading some of the roads to be able to get some big rigs down them,” Young said.
Bourbon County Public Works Director Eric Bailey said I.E.A. , the contractor, sends him a plan of the day, every day and yesterday they worked on Eagle Road between 40th and 50th Streets, capping over 2100 linear feet and additionally, 50th from Eagle Road to Hwy. 3 putting over 4200 linear feet.
Eric Bailey. Submitted photo.
“They put on 4-6 inches of gravel,” Bailey said.
Today they are working on 50th from Eagle to Hwy. 39 and 30th from Hwy. 39 going south, he said.
“They have a lay-down yard at (the junction of) Hwy. 39 and Hwy. 3,” Bailey said. “This is where they will have all their job trailers, their starting point every day, where the contractors will report in.”
Young said the area is about 10 acres and is the delivery area as well.
The Jayhawk Wind project will have a capacity of 193.2 Megawatts and can power 65,000 homes, according to the Apex website.
According to the March 3 press release from Apex Clean Energy
“The Jayhawk facility… is expected to be operational later this year, will consist of 70 GE wind turbines totaling an installed capacity of more than 190 MW. The project will provide significant economic benefits for the local and state economies—including the creation of more than 115 construction jobs and 7 long-term operations positions—and will generate over $20 million in landowner payments and $27.2 million in tax revenue.”
Fort Scott Community College President Alysia Johnston.
The federal government has created a relief fund to help college students attain their goal of higher education.
Fort Scott Community College is a recipient of the fund.
The college administration will not charge per credit hour fees for the fall semester, 2021.
Following is an email interview with FSCC President Alysia Johnston.
“The CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund-IHE/Student Aid provides funding to institutions to provide students with financial assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We feel not charging general fees of $55 per credit hour will financially benefit the most students.”
How much will this save the average student with say 9-12 hours per semester?
“If a student was enrolled in 12 hours they would save $660 for the semester ($55 x number of credit hours).”
How does a student get started on the process of enrolling with this program?
“We just released the information last week and I have not heard much feedback yet.”
Any changes in curriculum for next year?
“This past year we had protocols in place to mitigate COVID-19, such as masks and social distancing; however, we did not alter our schedule much, and remained face-to-face for the majority of our classes. Due to the fact we did not change our schedule it will look very similar to past semesters and the majority of classes are ‘in-person.'”
According to the college website:
“The mission statement Fort Scott Community College is an institution of higher learning with a long history of culture and diversity that provides affordable academic, technical, and occupational programs to meet student needs while fostering a mutually supportive relationship between the college and its communities.”
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Expanding the VA’s Vaccination Efforts to Spouses and Caregivers
This week, President Biden signed into law my legislation to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to veterans, their spouses and their caregivers under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). I introduced the Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize All Veterans and Every Spouse (SAVE LIVES) Act with my colleagues on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on March 11 and am pleased President Biden quickly signed this critical legislation into law to protect veterans, their spouses and caregivers.
Prior to passage of the SAVES LIVES Act, the VA was only able to vaccinate VHA enrollees. While the VA will continue to prioritize vaccinating VHA enrolled veterans with its allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine, the new law authorizes the VA to vaccinate non-enrolled veterans, veteran spouses, caregivers, overseas veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries with excess COVID-19 vaccine supply. The law also urges the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to adjust VA’s vaccine allocation based on this increased eligibility pool, as much as the supply chain allows.
Military service is family service, and that is why the VA and our House and Senate VA Committees aim to care for both veterans and their families—especially as we navigate this unprecedented crisis. Veterans, caregivers, spouses, and CHAMPVA beneficiaries made eligible for VA vaccination under the new law should click here to register their interest in receiving the vaccine at the VA. Registered users will also receive regular updates on the VA’s vaccine rollout process and on the timing of when the VA will begin to offer vaccines to these newly authorized groups.
If you are a veteran, you can click here for more information about the VA’s COVID-19 testing and treatment resources. You can also sign up for updates about vaccine availability here.
Honoring Deputy Robert Kunze III
On Friday morning, I had the honor of presenting the Congressional Badge of Bravery to the family of Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Kunze III, who died in the line of duty on September 18, 2018.
There is no higher calling than to devote yourself to the protection of others. Deputy Robert Kunze wasted no time before stepping up to serve his community. He joined the Shawnee Sheriff’s department immediately after graduating from Washburn University with a degree in criminal justice – the perfect example of a committed individual that law enforcement needs. As a six-year veteran of the Shawnee Sheriff’s Department and a 12-year veteran in Sedgwick County, he was an exceptional deputy who dedicated his life to public service.
The Congressional Badge of Bravery was established by Congress in 2008 to honor exceptional acts of bravery performed by federal, state and local law enforcement officers in the line of duty. It deeply reflects the courage and heroism of those who receive it. Deputy Kunze made the ultimate sacrifice to protect his community, and his actions personify bravery. He was a man committed to making a difference in Sedgewick County, and I was honored to be a part of this ceremony.
Bob Farmer has returned as the Fort Scott City Attorney.
He previously served for 45 years in the position and started again on March 23, 2021.
“Since joining our office Mr. Farmer has been extremely accessible and responsive,” Fort Scott City Manager Jeremy Frazier said. “I feel that our relationship will strengthen over time as we work on behalf of the community and I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Mr. Farmer.”
“The city attorney is a position by statute,” Farmer said. “The position is an officer, you have to sign an oath because it’s additional obligations above and beyond an employee. The general responsibilities are to give advice and protect the city in that capacity.”
In the agreement between Farmer and the city manager provided by the city, it states that “the city attorney will represent the city in civil actions, prosecute violations of the city ordinances, give legal advice to city officials and employees on city matters, prepare ordinances, legal papers, and documents, assist with public improvement proceedings and assist the governing body and other city agencies in the conduct of city meetings.”
“For service in addition to normal duties, the city will pay the attorney his hourly billing rate on a per hour basis, plus all out of pocket expenses incurred…in areas such as litigation, economic development, claims filed with the city as an adjunct to litigation and out-of-city services,” according to the agreement.
The agreement is for one year, at $4,000 per month.
His office, the firm of Nuss and Farmer PA, is located at 323 Judson in the Security Professional Building and he can be reached at 620-223-0150.
Bob Farmer.
City Manager Frazier, who came to the position in February 2021, said he had the pleasure of meeting Farmer prior to the commission approving his contract, at Crooner’s Restaurant by chance, while at dinner one evening.
“He struck me as someone who cared about the community and offered, if ever I needed, to assist me with anything that would help me be more successful on behalf of the community,” Frazier said. “I walked away from our initial encounter with a positive impression of Bob. Again, at this time, I had no idea that he would soon become our new city attorney, but I am glad that he submitted his name for consideration and was selected by the council.”
“It was undoubtedly a difficult decision by the council as there were many great candidates to consider,” Frazier said. “However, Bob is very knowledgeable and has held the city attorney position before, so I consider myself lucky to have his legal guidance. For a new city manager, it is great to have a city attorney of his caliber to lean on as we strive to move the city forward.”
In the community, Farmer has served previously in Fort Scott Kiwanis, as United Way Chairman, and the Fort Scott Planning Commission.
Farmer earned his Juris Doctorate in 1972 from the University of Kansas.
Farmer takes over from Jeffrey Deane, Lauber Municipal Law, LLC, Lee’s Summit, MO.
“Mr. Deane has assisted in the transition,” Farmer said. “He has been very courteous and professional.”
Deane served from 2019 to 2021 as the Fort Scott City Attorney.
John Henry Bower, age 84, a resident of rural Deerfield, Missouri, passed away Friday, March 26, 2021, at his home. He was born May 3, 1936, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the son of Jesse Bower and June Dunbar Bower.
He had served with the United States Army.
John married Amelia E. Jones on July 17, 1964, at Miami, Oklahoma.
John had worked for several years as a truck driver.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and exploring the outdoors with his grandchildren.
He also liked to garden and watch western movies.
Survivors include his wife, Amelia, of the home; and children, Rick Jones, of Ft. Scott, Jill Love and husband, Ron, Tony Bower, and Jason Bower and wife, Thabena, all of Deerfield; twelve grandchildren, Dustin Jones, Kendria Brown, Josh Jones, Haley Jones, and Garrett, Alyson Love, Quentin Love, Gavin Love, Evan Love, Jessica Bower, and fiancé, Jacob, Rebecca Bower, Micala Bower and Preslee Bower and ten great-grandchildren, Elijah, Hannah, Faith, Glory, Silas, Jordan, Romey, Madison, Taylor and David. Also surviving are two sisters, Mable Green, of Colorado and Roberta Rickman, of Girard, Kansas and two brothers, Perry Bower and wife, Helen and Chet Bower and wife, Linda, all of Ft. Scott, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his son, Doug Bower, three brothers, Jay, Floyd and Leroy Bower and a sister, Margaret Rhodes.
There was cremation and no services will be held at this time.
Memorials are suggested to Care to Share and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
3/26 & – Karaoke Friday Nights at The Boiler Room Brewhaus! Experience or beginners, it does not matter! Let’s have some fun with music & drinks! Click here for their FB page.
Fort Scott Cinema Showtimes 3/26 thru 4/1 Now Raya and the Last Dragon, Tom & Jerry, Chaos Walking. Click here to view showtimes.
3/22 thru 4/2- Art is Ageless Exhibit Fort Scott Presbyterian Village showing!
Seniors of the Fort Scott Community 65 + submitted art to be on display. Artists compete in nine categories, including painting, drawing, photography, quilting, and sculpture, and maybe designated as amateur or professional. Questions on viewing call 620.223.5550 and talk to Megan Brillhart. Located at 2401 S. Horton
3/26 & 3/27- Livestock Sale at the Fort Scott Livestock Market, both Friday & Saturday, click here for their FB page.
3/26 ~ FSCC Aggie Days sponsored by ReproLogixNo Class on Campus
3/26 ~ Bourbon County Senior Citizens FOOD BANK, 9 am-Noon for Seniors, Low-Income Families are from 12 – 3 pm. Click here for more information.
3/27 ~ Care to Share Garage Sale 8 am-Noon 106 S. Washington St., Fort Scott. Garage doors open in the back alley. Misc. Items from Donnie & Barbara Marsh to donate to Care to Share. Click here for details
3/27 ~ Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Gunn Park
10 am by the Kiwanis Club. Click here for details.
3/27 ~ Eggstravaganza Crafts at Buck Run Community Center ~ 9 – 10:30 am. Click here.
4/1- Chamber Coffee hosted by New Chamber Member Old 54 Cycles at 223 N. National Ave. 8 am
4/2 – Three Chord Justice Live Music at The Boiler Room Brewhaus! Let’s have some fun with music & drinks! Click here for their FB page.
4/3 – Car & Bike Show hosted by Old 54 Cycles Noon until 2 pm. No registration or entry fee. Call Jessee Hazen (928) 230-0642 or Click here for their FB page.
4/3- Pickleball tournament to benefit the FSHS Swim Team, click here for registration form.
4/3 – Kansas Conceal Carry Course, 8am-4pm, click here for FB event with details.
4/3 & 4/4 – Hollister Shooting Range, Open the 1st & 3rd weekends of the month, Sat 1-4pm, Sun Noon-5pm.
4/3 – Mark Nutsch Bottle Signing & Horse Soldier Bourbon Tasting, Hole in the Wall Liquor Store, 4 to 5pm, click here for FB event.
4/4 – Happy Easter!
SAVE THE DATE!
“FORT GAMES” 2-Day Event at Smallville Athletics ~ April 9th & 10th!
Timken 2-Day Job Fair! April 9th from 1 – 5 pm & April 10th from 10 am until 3 pm.
Care to Share Rummage Sale at Buck Run Community Center April 10th – Open spots for more sales, call 620.224.8070 (donations accepted as well for the Sharing Bucket)
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) plans to begin work on a U.S. 69 resurfacing project at Fort Scott on Monday, March 29, according to a KDOT press release. The project starts at the south U.S. 54 junction and continues south for six miles, ending ½ mile south of K-7.
Project activity includes a cold mill, concrete patching, and a three-inch asphalt overlay, according to the press release. The contractor will start at Wall Street and work south. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction at the work zone, with a width restriction of 12 feet. Flaggers will direct traffic on side roads.
Fort Scott City ManagerJeremy Frazier couldn’t be more excited about this street resurfacing project, he said.
Jeremy Frazier. Submitted photo.
“I believe that passers-through, whether right or wrong, assume that the condition of this highway embodies an accurate depiction of the City of Fort Scott,” Frazier said. “Although this highway is a KDOT Highway, there may be an assumption that it is a city-maintained highway. This of course is not the case.”
“To have this highway repaired is great news for Fort Scott,” he said.
” I am ecstatic and believe that this highway repair project lays the groundwork for future plans that we believe will come together with perfect timing,” Frazier said. “We are a long way away from changing the image of this community, but I feel, as I hope that everyone does, that the energy and enthusiasm present in the community will result in turning the corner not only in the downtown area but throughout the community. I am also optimistic that years from now, the community will have progressed in many ways for the better. Thank you KDOT. Thanks to the citizens, Fort Scott City Commission, non-profits, and business community!
KDOT awarded the $2.9 million construction contract to Bettis Asphalt & Construction, Inc., Topeka, according to the press release. Weather permitting, the road work should be finished this summer.
Check KDOT’s updated traveler information website, www.Kandrive.org, for more road conditions and construction details. KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a work zone.
Persons with questions may contact Iola Area Engineer Troy Howard, (620) 901-6557, or Public Affairs Manager Priscilla Petersen, (620) 902-6433.
Possible Streetscape
“I am additionally excited as I recently began discussions with KDOT to explore resources that might assist in a possible streetscape of HWY 69,” Frazier said. “If this streetscape were designed and constructed after the highway was repaired, it would mean that HWY 69 could become one of the most attractive routes through the community.”
Crafting started out as a hobby and became a business for Carol Jones.
Jones began her Rainbow Unicorn Boutique business at a booth in a flea market in 2018 and opened a storefront shop downtown this month at 5 E. Wall.
The Rainbow Unicorn Boutique is located at 5 E. Wall. Submitted photo.
“I make about 80 percent of all I sell,” Jones said.
Jewelry for sale at the Rainbow Unicorn Boutique. Submitted photo.
Jones works with many different mediums for her crafting, which focuses on custom jewelry and custom kitchen towels, she said.
Submitted photo.
She uses leather (both real and faux), natural stones, semi-precious stones, stainless steel and sterling silver.
Submitted photo.
Jones also offers classes or parties including painting and wire-wrapping crafts.
Submitted photo.
She also has Easter baskets for this time of year.
Her hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday.
She can be reached by phone at 904-609-8155.
Jones is a local girl who moved to the southern U.S. for a period, but returned home.
“Many people here probably knew my parents and grandparents,” she said. “I grew up on a farm with a huge pond near Jayhawk Road. My mom was Carol Lawson-Winship, my uncle was Charles Lawson and my grandfather was Woodrow “Pete” Lawson who had a radiator shop in Belltown.”
“I moved to Tulsa (OK)and then Savannah (GA), lived there for about 30 years and moved back due to health and wanting to be near my family, (son-Josh Jones),” she said. “My other son Dustin lives in Jax, Florida. My daughter Kendria is still in Savannah, and my youngest daughter lives in California. I have 11 grandkids and I love to travel. Cruising is my favorite.”
Old 54 Cycles is located at 223 N. National Avenue. Submitted photo.
Motorcyclists in the community will now have some help with repairs.
Jesse Hazen spent the last eight years working for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles as a research and development mechanic.
Jesse Hazen is the owner-operator of Old 54 Cycles. Submitted photo.
“Before that, I was a race mechanic for an amateur racer in Phoenix,” Jesse said.
He recently opened a new motorcycle service shop at 223 N. National and is the owner-operator.
Old 54 Cycles is a full-service shop.
“I am Harley-Davidson, Yamaha and Suzuki certified, but can work on it all,” he said. ” We work on American V-twins, import motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides. We are in the process of getting part supplies. We can do anything from tire changes, services all the way to full builds.”
“Quality work, growth, and exposure are our number-one priorities,” Jesse said.
Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and closed on Sunday.
His cellphone number is 928-230-0642, and he is in the process of getting a business line, he said.
The business email is old54cycles@ gmail.com, and one can find it on Facebook and Instagram page that both are Old 54 Cycles.
“We are hosting a Chamber Coffee on April 1st,” he said. “Currently, we are planning a car and bike show for April 3rd. We also plan on trying to do other events, such as car and bike nights, benefit rides, etc.”
“My Wife Kaytlin is going to be my support at the shop,” Jesse said. “She will be working a full-time job as well, so she might not be here all the time.”
Swimming lessons at the Fort Scott Aquatic Center on July 10, 2018.
The Bourbon County Coalition is gearing up with its’ annual family swim pass program, according to Billie Jo Drake, president.
“The goal of the family swim pass program is to provide access to the Fort Scott Aquatic Center for qualifying low-income families,” she said. “The application process includes proof of income.”
Application forms are now available at The Beacon and Buck Run Community Center; completed forms must be returned to Buck Run by April 30.
Funding for this program is provided by The Bourbon County Inter-Agency Coalition Board, Key Charitable Trust, SEK Community Foundation, Fort Scott Area Community Foundation, the City of Fort Scott, and generous individuals.
The duration of the approved passes will be for the 2021 swimming season.
